The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1887-05-26


out crude struggles and infantlie weak
ness began the race of national progress
a thousand years ahead of the acorn
planted parent. We did not come to
take possession OF these wids in bark
canoes, to cut down their forests with
stone axes, to slay their wild beasts
and wilder human occupants with
bows and flint headed arrows and
cultivate the soil with forked sticks of
timber, We came in ships, with
gunpowder and fire arms and weap-
ons to war on foes made of steal, and
weapons with which to war on nature
made of iron. We had a language
and a literature and printing where
with to disperse and perpetuate them.
We had strong sense OF the neces-
sites of society and the establishment
and maintenance of law intelligent
ideas Of the forms of government best
suited to promote our prosperity, and,
best of all, a clear perception of the
fundamental principles of human
liberty. We began thus well abreast
with all others, as fresh youth en-
ters into race with competitors who
have for centuries painted in the course
with all that knowledge which is de-
rived from the experience Of others
without the penalties which those
others paid as its price. This great
advantage was ours We have i'm
proved it to the utmost. Already we
are the richest people in the world ;
we pay highest wages for labor, that
labor is more remunerative and our
laborers live better and are better edu-
Gated than those of any other people.
We haye more miles OF steam railway
and telegraph lines than any other
country, about 10000 miles more'than
the nations of Europe combined which
is about 10000 miles, and | believe, is
about one-half OF that of all the world
At the adoption i'll 1889 Of the Fed,
eral constitution, which for all exter-
nal purposes made these states one
people, our population but little ex.
ceeded 100000; within the one hun
derd years which have intervened oul
numbers have increased to 60,000,000
Now if the same conditions favor and
the same proportions of increase
continues, by 1889 our population will
be over 500,000,000l Our wealth
which is now estimated at S50000,000
900 be, at that time if the percentage
of increase is preseryed-well, fig
ures fail me. 1t is simply incredible
When that period arrives | make NJ
doubt but there will be radical chan
ges in our modes of life, our mode
of political subdivision of territor,
and police administration. Our unit
of value in money and our measure
Of quantity in material things vii
probably both be enlarged, Natural.
there will be readjustments in man,
departments in response to the de
mands of conformity.
But speculation as to what may b
: our numbers, our wealth and ou
power 100 years from now, are not S
important, interesting as they are, q
some other things. Will the unity {
so great country be preserved? Wi
the rights and independence of the se'
: eral states according to the origins
compact, be maintained? Will the ind
: vidual liberties and democratic equal
r ty of our people be upheld? Will IL
2 rality public and private virtue go han
| in hand with material progress? Wi
3 the robust civilization which christian
i. ity has given US, enable US to avoi
4 the social dangers which beset crowdt
t populations everywhere? With owe
}. flowing wealth, unequally distribute
d as it will be, can we avoid the class d
|, tinctions of Europe, the caste tende
t, cies of India, the beastiality Of Chin
e the polygamy Of Utah, the polyand
y Of rhibit? Overlooking with popul
|, ton and riches, and drunken with
Il sense OF power, will we not become ds
Q zled with the idea OF national glory al
e sacrifice, as did the latter Romans, 0
Is republican simplicity and liberties
is its affairs? Will we not reach out
the pride OF our strength to interie
n inthe quarrels of others and seek
h give law to the world?
Of These and a score of similar qu
a. tions, will present themselves to t
Il. next generation and will press c
rs grandchildren for solution. With
d. population Of only twenty-five to
i'd square mile they seem dim and far {
n tant but with two hundred and Fl
he to the square mile they will be uT
ic us in full force. Already we feel
IN pressure Of many old world evils, a
,r- danger menances our institutions
oh many quarters. The wise sailor
he CARDS the aspect of the sky, and spre
ne or takes in sail as its voices speak.
ty Referring to present dangers,
a rather indications of coming dang
De- to our institutions, | will mention